The setting: Southwestern Oklahoma State, where the now-Buffalo Bills and former New York Jets head coach and New Orleans Saints defensive coordinator were both playing football.

The situation: Rob had a date, and he wanted Rex to be his wingman.

We'll let The Buffalo News' Tim Graham and the Ryan brothers take it from here:

Rex wasn't down for the mission because he'd already met Micki, the woman he would marry.

Rob: "I was a solo rider and had a babe on the line. But she had a friend. I said, 'You know, come on. Be a team player.'"

Rex: "I said, 'Dude, I'm staying at home today.'"

Rob: "So after a few hundred beers I said, 'You need to help out.' He didn't, so I was pissed and got in a wrestling match with him. I think he was a lot more sober than I was."

Rex: "I was bigger and was just going to throw his ass down. But he reversed me and got on top. So we went at it. We ended up outside, and here he comes."

Rob: "I ran after him, and he had a right hand waiting for me. I never saw it coming. Still haven't seen it."

Rex: "I got him good, and it was over. I felt terrible. I couldn't believe I hit my brother like that."

Rex was furious and, as keeper of the car key, drove off to clear his head. Tatters of a bloody shirt hung off him.

"I get pulled over by a cop. He sees me and doesn't know what he's got," Rex said with a gleaming-white smile. "I said, 'I just got in a fight with my brother. You can take me back there, and he'll explain it.'

"They take me to jail and then called my brother. He said, 'Nah, leave him in there.' "

Rob's ankle was broken during the wrestling portion of the match, and his nose broken during the boxing portion. When they arrived in New Orleans for Super Bowl week, Rob's ankle was in a cast. "We both had black eyes," Rob said. Buddy [Ryan, their father, who was days away from leading the Chicago Bears' defense in the team's Super Bowl XX win] wasn't amused.

The Cleveland Browns had appeared to be the primary target for the next series of HBO's "Hard Knocks," but according to sources, the Browns balked at the idea, in part due to quarterback Johnny Manziel's rehab treatment.

With Cleveland out of the running, four teams -- the Bills, Texans, Giants and Redskins -- are the rumored favorites to be featured on the hit show.

With all of them boasting the requisite star power and affable personalities to captivate audiences -- unlike last season's Falcons -- we assess the entertainment value of each rumored "Hard Knocks" finalist:

Houston Texans

• Pretty much everything J.J. Watt does ends up on a highlight reel, or trending somewhere, such as his faux breaking news, attending the NCAA basketball tournament with tennis star Caroline Wozniacki, and especially when his thigh injury resembles the meat Rocky sparred with. If the NFL All-Pro and all-around showman is involved, trust us, people will tune in.
• The Texans don't have a sexy quarterback camp battle, but it remains sports' most glamorous position, and the competition between Brian Hoyer and Ryan Mallett should be a fierce one.
• Texas is BBQ country, so here's hoping jovial big man Vince Wilfork cranks up the old grill for more of this:

Buffalo Bills

• "Let's go get a god damn snack!" is an iconic Rex Ryan quote that resides near the top of the pantheon of "Hard Knocks" quotables. With the bombastic coach now calling Buffalo home, fans would certainly welcome some fresh Rexims.
• Chip Kelly canceled the LeSean McCoy show in Philly, but the running back's silky smooth game and penchant for expressing whatever's on his mind makes his Buffalo reboot must-see TV.
• A cameo from Buffalo legend Jim Kelly will display the human element of football, as his battle to overcome cancer was truly inspiring to the team and fans across the world.

Note: A Bills source told ESPN.com's Mike Rodak that the team is not interested in the show, but we can still dream, can't we?

AP Photo/Bill Wippert

New York Giants

• Receiver Odell Beckham Jr. just exudes swagger and is in the midst of an NFL takeover that has seen him reel in the catch of the year and land the "Madden 16" cover. Next, America gets an inside look at his meteoric ascent and all the insane grabs previously not privy to cameras.
• How red can Tom Coughlin's face get? We're sure to find out as rookies bungle drills and draw the ire of the fiery coach.
• Manning face! Manning face! And more Manning face!

Jordan Strauss/Invision for NFL/AP Images

Washington Redskins

• Think Shady had some heat for his former coach? Wait until DeSean Jackson, who was released by Kelly, gets miked up.
• Jon Gruden has a knack for saying something that will leave you scratching your head. Here's hoping his brother Jay shares that enigmatic factor and continues the NFL's version of the "Odd Couple" with his co-star and starting QB -- for now.
• This may be Robert Griffin III's final shot at re-capturing the hearts of fans in the nation's capital? We're not sure how he'll look in camp, but an appearance by his adorable new baby girl, Reese Ann, will surely help his cause:

NFL Week 2 questions

The NFL's second week has come and gone, and both Washingtons made big news. The D.C. version saw its team lose quarterback Robert Griffin III to an ankle injury -- but win in big fashion anyway behind Kirk Cousins. The team from the state of Washington, meanwhile, was stunned in a 30-21 loss to the Chargers, with cornerback Richard Sherman being called out by San Diego players. What do you make of the week's major storylines?

Which of these was the most surprising outcome of Week 2?

15%

Bears 28-20 at 49ers

46%

Browns 26-24 vs. Saints

34%

Chargers 30-21 vs. Seahawks

5%

Eagles 30-27 at Colts

(Total votes: 73,997)

Which of these 2-0 teams is most for real?

18%

Bills

56%

Cardinals

26%

Texans

(Total votes: 77,282)

Which of these 0-2 teams has been most disappointing?

7%

Chiefs

19%

Colts

14%

Giants

60%

Saints

(Total votes: 267,508)

Is Andrew Luck an elite quarterback?

61%

Yes

39%

No

(Total votes: 74,968)

When both are healthy, who should be Washington's starting quarterback?

71%

Kirk Cousins

29%

Robert Griffin III

(Total votes: 78,827)

What is Robert Griffin III's NFL future?

4%

Pro Bowler

20%

Above-average starter

50%

Average/below-average starter

26%

Backup

(Total votes: 47,188)

Some Chargers suggested Richard Sherman was "exposed" as a cornerback during Sunday's 30-21 Seahawks loss. Was he?

53%

Yes

47%

No

(Total votes: 108,444)

How worried should Seahawks fans be about their team giving up 30 points to the Chargers on Sunday?

23%

Very

58%

A little

19%

Not at all

(Total votes: 42,741)

Should the Giants bench Eli Manning?

50%

Yes

50%

No

(Total votes: 318,993)

Which game is more indicative of the Cowboys this season?

75%

28-17 loss vs. San Francisco in Week 1

25%

26-10 win at Tennessee in Week 2

(Total votes: 45,746)

Will the Lions (1-1) make the playoffs?

47%

Yes

53%

No

(Total votes: 43,826)

Are the Panthers (2-0) legitimate Super Bowl contenders?

34%

Yes

66%

No

(Total votes: 64,422)

How worried should Saints fans be about their 0-2 start?

62%

Very

38%

A little or not at all

(Total votes: 70,278)

The Saints were the overwhelming preseason favorites in the NFC South. Has their 0-2 start and the Panthers' 2-0 start changed your opinion on who will win the division?

31%

Yes, I'm now picking Carolina

21%

No, I picked Carolina in the preseason

32%

No, I'm still picking New Orleans

16%

I'm picking either Atlanta or Tampa Bay

(Total votes: 42,191)

What do you make of the Ravens' 26-6 win over the Steelers on Thursday night?

Thoughts on NFL's opening week?

The NFL is back! On the first Sunday, some teams (San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos) won as expected, others (New Orleans Saints, New England Patriots) suffered surprising defeats, and a few more (Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs) were downright demoralized. On Monday, the Detroit Lions grabbed the headlines by routing the New York Giants. What's your take on some of the major questions from Week 1 action?